Prostatitis

What is prostatitis?

Prostatitis is an infection of the prostate gland in men. The walnut-sized prostate gland is involved in the production of semen. The prostate wraps around the tube that transports urine out of the bladder.

Prostatitis is a potentially painful but noncancerous condition that occurs most often in middle-aged and young men. Symptoms of prostatitis may vary from person to person, but general symptoms include burning with urination, the inability to empty the bladder completely, and painful ejaculation.

There are different types of prostatitis. If you have no symptoms or discomfort, but your health care provider finds white blood cells that fight infection in the prostate fluid and semen, this is called asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. This condition is often diagnosed when a health care provider is testing for an enlarged prostate, infertility, or prostate cancer.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a bacterial infection that occurs repeatedly. Chronic bacterial prostatitis may occur in the presence of other infections in the bladder, kidney, or urinary tract. Chronic prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome, is the most common form of prostatitis. The symptoms of this disease are lower back pain, pain between the legs, and pain at the tip of the penis. Other symptoms include painful ejaculation and the need to urinate often and urgently. Chronic prostatitis may be accompanied by inflammation of the prostate gland, but can also be non-inflammatory. Sometimes, inflammation is present but there is no sign of a bacterial infection.

Acute prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection. It is the least common type of prostatitis, but it can be life threatening. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms, such as high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit); severe pain in the lower back or genital or rectal area; or inability to urinate.

Seek prompt medical care if you are being treated for prostatitis but mild symptoms recur or are persistent.

What are the symptoms of prostatitis?

Symptoms of prostatitis can affect the prostate gland and the urinary tract. The symptoms of prostatitis may vary from person to person, but general symptoms include burning with urination, the inability to empty the bladder completely, and painful urination. Prostatitis that occurs without any noticeable symptoms is called asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis.

Common causes of prostatitis

How is prostatitis treated?

Treatment for prostatitis will depend on the underlying cause of the prostatitis. Prostatitis caused by bacterial infection will require different treatment than prostatitis caused by other disorders or conditions.

Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis may not require any treatment, although your health care provider may choose to test for this condition on a regular basis.
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